How do we know faith is alive?

James articulates that genuine faith is validated through deeds that reflect one's belief in God and His commands. He uses the examples of Abraham and Rahab to illustrate this point, where their faith prompted them to take significant actions that demonstrated their trust in God (James 2:21-25). For Abraham, this meant offering his son Isaac, while for Rahab, it involved protecting the Israelite spies. Both examples reinforce the idea that true faith is active and responsive, leading to a life characterized by obedience and service. In contrast, a faith that does not result in action is deemed dead and ineffective, proving the necessity of works that accompany belief.